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1.
Cureus ; 15(10): e46399, 2023 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37927681

ABSTRACT

Introduction The presence of a central venous catheter (CVC) leads to a high risk for blood infections, which are associated with increases in morbidity, mortality, and costs. This study aims to assess intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' and physicians' knowledge regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for preventing CVC-related infections before and after an interactive distance education delivered through the e-learning platform Teleprometheus. Materials and methods The study was conducted among 85 nurses and physicians in Nicosia's General Hospital Intensive Care Unit (NGH-ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU). A validated questionnaire was used to assess nurses' and physicians' knowledge. Results Prior to the online interactive distance education, the mean total knowledge score was x̄ = 4.8 (SD = 2.46), while after, the mean total knowledge score increased to x̄ = 8.9 (SD = 2.38) (p<0.001). ICU physicians had a higher mean total knowledge score (x̄ = 10.20) than ICU nurses (x̄ = 8.75) after the intervention. There was no correlation between years of experience in the ICU and the level of knowledge (r = 0.048). The interactive distance education was positively evaluated by the participants, through a questionnaire, specially designed for this study. Discussion The most important findings were that (a) the level of knowledge of the participants improved with a statistically significant difference after the completion of the e-course, (b) the level of knowledge of the participants, after the completion of the e-course, was much higher from other studies, (c) there was no correlation between the years of experience of ICU health professionals and their level of knowledge, and (d) the interactive distance e-course was positively evaluated and satisfied the participants. Conclusion The current study demonstrates that in high-intensity work environments, such as ICUs, adopting e-learning approaches seems more necessary than ever.

2.
Eur J Oncol Nurs ; 61: 102188, 2022 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36202024

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To test whether Virtual Reality (VR) can benefit cancer patients from their interaction with an immersive environment, on their mood and their biophysical parameters, compared to those who will experience a Guided Imagery (GI) intervention. METHODS: This was a randomized crossover trial with 50 cancer patients on active chemotherapy treatment, who were randomized to one of two treatment sequences VR-GI or GI-VR. Patients were assessed for Mood Changes, using POMS questionnaire, for three symptoms (Nausea, Pain and Feeling Sick), using three questions from FACT-G questionnaire, and Bio-physical parameters (Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Oxygen Saturation). Linear Mixed Effect Models were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Patients experienced a better effect of mood state, for all the sub-scales of mood, after the VR intervention compared to GI, regardless of the sequence (p < 0⋅05). No effectiveness was found for Nausea, Pain and Feeling Sick symptoms. Statistically significant improvements were found on the Bio-physical parameters for the VR intervention (p < 0⋅05). CONCLUSION: VR intervention based on mood induction strategies is a feasible and effective procedure for promoting positive mood in cancer patients during chemotherapy. Ways to integrate such innovative technologies in clinical practice need to be explored by health care professionals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02392728.


Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Virtual Reality , Humans , Imagery, Psychotherapy , Cross-Over Studies , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Nausea , Pain
3.
Eur J Oncol Nurs ; 51: 101908, 2021 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33626423

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To test the effectiveness of henna in the management of palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) in patients receiving treatment with capecitabine or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). METHOD: This was a randomized controlled feasibility study in three specialized tertiary cancer centers with 56 patients with a PPE grade 1 or above and various cancer diagnoses. The intervention included the local application of henna to the affected areas. The control group followed the same process with a henna inert. Primary outcome was PPE grade and secondary outcomes were the EORTC QLQ-C30, PPE-related QoL (HFS-14), activities of daily living (ECOG) and pain. Patients in both groups were assessed at baseline and then weekly at four follow-ups. RESULTS: PPE grade in the intervention group (1-3.8%) was lower compared to the control group (4-13.38%) and also lower levels of pain were reported by the patients in the intervention group (2.46 ± 1.17) compared to the control (5.57 ± 2.01). ECOG status in the intervention group was improved compared to the control (p = 0.039). The intervention group, experienced higher Global Health Status (p ≤ 0.008), Physical function (p ≤ 0.001), Emotional Function (p = 0.029), Social function (p ≤ 0.001) and lower Fatigue (p ≤ 0.001) and Pain (p ≤ 0.001) compared to the Control group. A statistically significant interaction was found between Group and Time over the weekly measurements of HFS-14 scores (F = 5,009, p ≤ 0.002) indicating the significant effect of the intervention throughout the weekly assessments. CONCLUSION: The trial provided preliminary evidence on henna's effectiveness for treating PPE during treatment with capecitabine or PLD, with lower PPE grades, better performance status and better HRQoL observed in the henna group. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01751893.


Subject(s)
Capecitabine/therapeutic use , Doxorubicin/analogs & derivatives , Hand-Foot Syndrome/drug therapy , Naphthoquinones/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Doxorubicin/therapeutic use , Drug Interactions , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome
4.
Eur J Oncol Nurs ; 50: 101866, 2021 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33227569

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (PPE) is a dose-limiting adverse event that commonly occurs with capecitabine and Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin-PLD treatment. The study aimed to test the effectiveness of a Pyridoxine (B6) treatment protocol in the management of PPE in patients receiving treatment with capecitabine or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. METHODS: This was a pilot randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients receiving capecitabine or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin with PPE grade 1 or above were randomly allocated to receive pyridoxine or placebo. The PPE grade, Quality of Life-QoL, Pain and patients' activities of daily living were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty patients were assigned in the Control and 24 in the Intervention group. No statistically significant difference was found in the PPE grade between baseline and week 6 in the 2 groups (p = 0.263). The control group exhibited worst PPE-associated QoL and higher PAIN levels between baseline and week 6. Respectively, the intervention group showed improved PPE-associated QoL and lower PAIN levels. At week 6, the ECOG status in the Intervention group was improved compared to the control (p = 0.018). Patients in the Intervention group experienced better Global Health Status (p = 0.012), Physical (p = 0.003), Emotional (p = 0.008), and Social function (p < 0.001), lower Fatigue (p = 0.001) and Pain (p = 0.006) compared to Control. CONCLUSION: Topical pyridoxine was not shown to have an effect on the treatment of PPE. However, results demonstrated its effectiveness on health related QoL, QoL-associated with PPE and pain levels. Due to the high attrition rate further validation of these results in a larger population is warranted. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02625415.


Subject(s)
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/adverse effects , Hand-Foot Syndrome/drug therapy , Pyridoxine/administration & dosage , Vitamin B Complex/administration & dosage , Activities of Daily Living , Administration, Topical , Adult , Aged , Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/adverse effects , Capecitabine/adverse effects , Double-Blind Method , Doxorubicin/adverse effects , Doxorubicin/analogs & derivatives , Female , Hand-Foot Syndrome/etiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Pain Measurement , Pilot Projects , Polyethylene Glycols/adverse effects , Quality of Life , Treatment Outcome
5.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 20(1): 587, 2020 Jun 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32590980

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Teamwork and job satisfaction are important among the multidisciplinary team who care patients with chronic illnesses such as heart failure (HF) patients. TeamSTEPPS teamwork perceptions questionnaire (T-TPQ) and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire "short form" (MSQ-short) are both self-report questionnaires which examine multiple dimensions of perceptions of teamwork and job satisfaction within healthcare settings, respectively. The aim of the study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Greek versions of the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork perceptions questionnaire (Gr-T-TPQ) and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire "short form" (Gr-MSQ-short). METHODS: A methodological study was contacted in order to assess the construct validity and reliability of the Gr-T-TPQ and Gr-MSQ-short. For that reason, 292 questionnaires were administrated to Greek-Cypriot health care professionals (HCPs). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted for the data collected with the GrT-TPQ and Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and CFA were also conducted for the data collected with the GrMSQ-short questionnaire. Cronbach's a was calculated as well. RESULTS: CFA of the data collected with Gr-T-TPQ confirmed the initial scale structure with excellent fit indices (× 2 (df) 1124.75 (550), p < 0.0001, AGFI = 0.986, TLI = 0.994, CFI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.06, 90%, C.I.[0.055-0.065]). Furthermore, all dimensions were found to be correlated (r = 0.65 to r = 0.88) and internal consistency was found adequate (Cronbach's α = 0.96). Subscales also, demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.87-0.95). CFA for the data collected with Gr-MSQ-short, did not confirm the initial scale's dimensions. In EFA items 1, 5, 6, 12 and 18 were eliminated from the analysis due to low communalities and multiple components loading. The oblimin rotation with two factors was explaining 58% of the variance. These two factors identified were Supervisor/Autonomy and Task Enrichment. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the Gr-T-TPQ and Gr-MSQ-short are construct-valid instruments for measuring perceptions of teamwork and job satisfaction in Greek speaking HCPs' population.


Subject(s)
Job Satisfaction , Patient Care Team , Psychometrics/instrumentation , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adult , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Greece , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Minnesota , Personal Satisfaction , Reproducibility of Results , Translating , Young Adult
6.
Aust Crit Care ; 33(5): 412-419, 2020 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31818632

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that critically ill patients' pain may still be underestimated. Systematic approaches to pain assessment are of paramount importance for improving patients' outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of a systematic approach to pain assessment on the incidence and intensity of pain and related clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. METHODS: Randomized controlled study with consecutive critically ill patients allocated to either a standard care only or a systematic pain assessment group. The Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and the Critical Pain Observation Tool (C-POT) were completed twice daily for all participants. In the intervention group, clinicians were notified of pain scores. Linear Mixed Models (LMM) for the longitudinal effect of the intervention were employed. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients were included (control: n=61; intervention: n2=56). The incidence of pain (C-POT >2) in the intervention group was significantly lower compared to the control group (p < .001). The intervention had a statistically significant effect on pain intensity (BPS, p = 0.01). The average total morphine equivalent dose in the intervention group was higher than in the control group (p = 0.045), as well as the average total dose of propofol (p = 0.027). There were no statistically significant differences in ICU mortality (23.4% vs 19.3%, p=0.38, odds ratio 0.82 [0.337-1.997]) and length of ICU stay (13.5, SD 11.1 vs 13.9, SD 9.5 days, p= 0.47). CONCLUSION: Systematic pain assessment may be associated with a decrease in the intensity and incidence of pain and influence the pharmacological management of pain and sedation of critically ill patients.


Subject(s)
Critical Illness , Propofol , Humans , Pain Measurement
7.
BMJ Open ; 9(1): e026809, 2019 01 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30679301

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Cancer treatment is a particularly stressful period for the patient. The reasons vary and include fear of treatment outcome as well as treatment induced side effects. The patient frequently experiences simultaneously various side effects resulting in a diminishing of the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The study provides evidence on the co-occurrence and inter-relations between pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in patients with breast and prostate cancer. DESIGN: This paper presents a secondary analysis of the data from a randomised control trial designed to test the effectiveness of guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation on pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Non-parametric bootstrapping analyses were used to test the mediational model of anxiety, fatigue and depression as parallel mediators of the relationship between pain and HRQoL. SETTING: The study was undertaken at the home setting. PARTICIPANTS: In total 208 patients were included in the study (assigned equally in two groups), referred at the outpatient clinics of the three participating cancer care centres. RESULTS: The three mediators fully mediate the relationship between pain and HRQoL indirect effect (IEoverall=-0.3839, 95% CI: lower limit (LL)=-0.5073 to upper limit (UL)=-0.2825) indicating that patients with increased pain are likely to have higher levels of anxiety, fatigue and depression. Gender significantly moderated the mediational effect of Fatigue Index of Moderated Mediation (IMM=-0.2867 SE=0.1526, LL=-0.6127, UL=-0.0226) but did not moderate mediational effect of anxiety (IMM=-0.0709, SE=0.1414, LL=-0.3459, UL=+0.2089). The results show that the three mediators in a serial causal order fully mediate the relationship between pain and HRQoL (IEoverall=-0.384, 95% CI: LL=-0.51 to UL=-0.284) and the ratio of the overall indirect effect to the total effect is 0.8315 (95% CI: LL=0.5683 to UL=1.1718). CONCLUSION: This work provides evidence that targeting fatigue, anxiety and depression may have a meaningful effect on pain as a related symptom and potentially have a positive impact on HRQoL of patients with breast and prostate cancer TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01275872; Post-results.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/complications , Imagery, Psychotherapy/methods , Pain Management/methods , Prostatic Neoplasms/complications , Quality of Life , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anxiety/therapy , Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Depression/therapy , Fatigue/therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nausea/therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/therapy , Regression Analysis , Treatment Outcome , Vomiting/therapy , Young Adult
8.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30148685

ABSTRACT

The determination of acrylamide in potato products, bakery products and coffee, and the human dietary exposure is reported. The method reported is based on a single extraction step with water, followed by the clean-up of the extract using solid phase extraction columns and finally, the determination of acrylamide using UPLC-MS/MS. The MS/MS detection was carried out using an ESI interface in positive ion mode. Internal calibration was used for the quantification of acrylamide, because of the suppression/enhancement matrix effects due to the complex nature of the samples. The method performance characteristics were determined after spiking blank samples. The mean recoveries in spiked coffee samples, potato chips, breakfast cereals and crispbread ranged from 93% to 99%, with RSDs lower than 5% for both repeatability and reproducibility conditions. The estimated limits of detection and quantification of the method were 10 and 32 µg kg-1, respectively. The method was used for monitoring acrylamide in 406 samples. Acrylamide amounts ranged from <32 to 2450 µg kg-1. A total of 360 samples (89%) were contaminated with acrylamide, but only 14% of the samples exceeded the benchmark levels of the EU legislation. Foods with the highest mean acrylamide amounts were potato crisps (642 µg kg-1), French fries (383 µg kg-1) and biscuits (353 µg kg-1). The mean and 95th percentile acrylamide exposures of adolescents in Cyprus were 0.8 and 1.8 µg kg-1 body weight per day, respectively. The estimated levels of dietary exposure to acrylamide are not of concern with respect to neurotoxicity. However, the margins of exposure (MOEs) indicate a concern for carcinogenicity. Potato fried products (45%), fine bakery ware (21%) and potato chips (14%) contributed the most to overall acrylamide exposure.


Subject(s)
Acrylamide/analysis , Dietary Exposure/analysis , Food Analysis , Food Contamination/analysis , Bread/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Coffee/chemistry , Cyprus , Edible Grain/chemistry , Humans , Snacks , Solanum tuberosum/chemistry , Tandem Mass Spectrometry
9.
Eur J Oncol Nurs ; 34: 89-97, 2018 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29784145

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced oral mucositis is one of the main side effects during and after the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. The study was designed to provide evidence on the effectiveness of thyme honey on oral mucositis management. METHODS: This was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 72 head and neck cancer patients who were divided either to the intervention group (thyme honey rinses) or to the control group (saline rinses). Oral mucositis was assessed according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOC criteria), and assessments were performed weekly starting at the 4th week of the radiotherapy for seven weeks and repeated once 6 months later. Additionally, the Oral Mucositis Weekly Questionnaire (OMWQ) was given at 4th week of radiotherapy, 1 month after the completion of radiotherapy and 6 months later. The ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier for this study is NCT01465308. This paper reports on the findings regarding thyme honey's effectiveness on oral mucositis. RESULTS: Generalized estimating equations revealed that patients in the intervention group were graded lower in the objective assessment of oral mucositis (p < 0,001), maintained their body weight (p < 0,001) and showed an improvement in their global health (p = 0.001) compared to the control group. Quality of life of the patients in the same group was also statistically significantly higher than that of the patients of the control group (p < 0,001). CONCLUSION: The study provided evidence on the positive effect of thyme honey on the management of radiation-induced oral mucositis and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients.


Subject(s)
Head and Neck Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Honey , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Radiation Injuries/drug therapy , Radiotherapy/adverse effects , Stomatitis/drug therapy , Thymus Plant/chemistry , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Quality of Life , Radiation Injuries/etiology , Stomatitis/etiology , Surveys and Questionnaires
10.
Am J Crit Care ; 27(3): 172-185, 2018 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29716903

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pain, a persistent problem in critically ill patients, adversely affects outcomes. Despite recommendations, no evidence-based nonpharmacological approaches for pain treatment in critically ill patients have been developed. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a multimodal integrative intervention on the incidence of pain and on secondary outcomes: intensity of pain, hemodynamic indices (systolic and mean arterial pressure, heart rate), anxiety, fear, relaxation, optimism, and sleep quality. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, double-blinded repeated-measures trial with predetermined eligibility criteria was conducted. The intervention included relaxation, guided imagery, moderate pressure massage, and listening to music. The primary outcome was incidence of pain (score on Critical Care Pain Observation Tool > 2). Other outcomes included pain ratings, hemodynamic measurements, self-reported psychological outcomes, and quality of sleep. Repeated-measures models with adjustments (baseline levels, confounders) were used. RESULTS: Among the 60 randomized critically ill adults in the sample, the intervention group experienced significant decreases in the incidence (P = .003) and ratings of pain (P < .001). Adjusted models revealed a significant trend for lower incidence (P = .002) and ratings (P < .001) of pain, systolic arterial pressure (P < .001), anxiety (P = .01), and improved quality of sleep (P = .02). CONCLUSION: A multimodal integrative intervention may be effective in decreasing pain and improving pain-related outcomes in critically ill patients.


Subject(s)
Complementary Therapies/methods , Critical Illness/nursing , Pain Management/methods , Pain Management/nursing , Aged , Anxiety/therapy , Double-Blind Method , Fear , Female , Hemodynamics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Management/psychology , Relaxation Therapy , Severity of Illness Index , Sleep
11.
Eur J Oncol Nurs ; 27: 1-8, 2017 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28279391

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced xerostomia is one of the most common side effects that head and neck cancer patients experience during and after treatment. Despite the various methods for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia, it remains highly prevalent among patients treated for head and neck cancers negatively influencing their lives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of thyme honey as a means for managing radiation-induced xerostomia. METHOD: This was a parallel randomised controlled trial with two equal arms, the experimental arm (thyme honey) and the control arm (saline). 72 head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or/and chemotherapy or/and surgery were recruited in a specialised cancer centre. Patients in both arms followed the same administration protocol with thyme honey and saline respectively. Identical assessments at baseline, 1 month and 6 months following completion of the intervention were performed in both arms including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) xerostomia scale and the Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ) additionally to weekly oral clinical assessments. The ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier for this study is NCT01465308. RESULTS: Linear Mixed Models revealed the statistically significant effect of the intervention on xerostomia (F = 8.474 p < 0.001) and overall quality of life (F = 13.158 p < 0.001). Moreover, Generalised Estimating Equations revealed a statistically significant effect on strong and unbearable pain (F = 10.524 p < 0.001) and dysphagia (F = 4.525 p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: The study has demonstrated the safety and efficacy findings of Thyme honey in head and neck cancer patients for the management of treatment induced xerostomia.


Subject(s)
Head and Neck Neoplasms/complications , Head and Neck Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Honey , Radiotherapy/adverse effects , Thymus Plant/chemistry , Xerostomia/drug therapy , Xerostomia/etiology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires
12.
Healthcare (Basel) ; 4(4)2016 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27809282

ABSTRACT

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the mental health of Cypriot citizens living in the current difficult period of economic recession. The specific objective was to investigate the different factors (gender, age, socio-economic factors, etc.) that may affect the levels of emotional distress, anxiety, and depression in patients attending the Rural Health Centre of Kofinou. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of a total of 300 Cypriots who visited Kofinou Health Centre in the period between July and September 2015. For the middle-aged citizens, the Greek version of the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was applied to 150 persons [1], while for the visiting senior citizens (aged over 65 years), the Greek version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used [2]. Results: HADS: A total of 150 people of average age 47 ± 11.5 years (min 23-max 64) participated in the study. Fifty-six percent were women. Seventy-seven percent stated they had a reduction in income (mean reduction 35% ± 25%) and 46.7% suffered from chronic disease. The 36.6% and 28.7% of the visitors showed moderate or severe forms of anxiety and depression, accordingly. Higher emotional distress is associated with lower educational level (b = -2.63, p < 0.001), lower income (b = -1.07, p = 0.017), and the presence of a chronic disease (b = 5.45, p < 0.001). The same factors are significantly associated with higher anxiety (Education: b = -1.20, p = 0.003; Income: b = -0.64, p = 0.01; Chronic disease: b = 2.82, p = 0.001). Additionally, a reduction in income (>35%) is associated with increased depression (p = 0.028). GDS: 150 patients out of which 77 were women (51.3%). The average age of participants was 72 ± 5.5 years. Ninety-three (62%) participants declared a reduction in income due to the financial crisis (mean reduction 20% ± 8%), while 139 (92.7%) stated that they had chronic disease. Fifty-three participants (35.3%) thought they had symptoms of depression after the economic crisis. The women showed higher level of geriatric depression symptoms than men (b = -1.96, p = 0.005), while age is associated with higher levels of GDS (b = 0.16, p = 0.006). Conclusions: The study shows that stress levels, depression, and emotional distress are increased in specific population groups. The main variables associated with the mental health of the participants are the presence of a chronic disease, income, and level of education.

13.
PLoS One ; 11(6): e0156911, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27341675

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Patients receiving chemotherapy often experience many different symptoms that can be difficult to alleviate and ultimately negatively influence their quality of life. Such symptoms include pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and retching, anxiety and depression. There is a gap in the relevant literature on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural and relaxation techniques in symptom clusters. The study reflects this gap in the literature and aimed to test the effectiveness of Guided Imagery (GI) and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) on a cluster of symptoms experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: This was a randomized control trial with 208 patients equally assigned either in the intervention or the control group. Measurements in both groups were collected at baseline and at completion of intervention (4 weeks). Patients were assessed for pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and retching, anxiety and depression. The overall management of the cluster was also assessed based on the patients' self-reported health related quality of life-HRQoL. Chi-square tests (X2), independent T-tests and Linear Mixed Models were calculated. RESULTS: Patients in the intervention group experienced lower levels of Fatigue (p<0.0.0225), and Pain (p = 0.0003) compared to those in the control group and experienced better HRQoL (p<0.0001) [PRE-POST: INTERVENTION: Pain 4.2(2.5) - 2.5(1.6), Fatigue 27.6(4.1) - 19.3(4.1), HRQoL 54.9(22.7) - 64.5(23), CONTROL: Pain 3.5(1.7) - 4.8(1.5), Fatigue 28.7(4.1) - 32.5(3.8), HRQoL 51.9(22.3)- 41.2(24.1)]. Nausea, vomiting and retching occurred significantly less often in the intervention group [pre-post: 25.4(5.9)- 20.6(5.6) compared to the control group (17.8(6.5)- 22.7(5.3) (F = 58.50 p<0.0001). More patients in the control group (pre:n = 33-post:n = 47) were found to be moderately depressed compared to those in the intervention group (pre:n = 35-post:n = 15) (X2 = 5.93; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study provided evidence that the combination of GI and PMR can be effective in the management of a cluster of symptoms in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. These techniques can complement existing management measures to achieve a comprehensive management of this symptom cluster and increase patients HRQoL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01275872.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/therapy , Imagery, Psychotherapy , Neoplasms/complications , Relaxation Therapy , Adult , Aged , Anxiety , Disease Management , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/diagnosis , Fatigue , Female , Humans , Imagery, Psychotherapy/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Nausea , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms/therapy , Pain , Quality of Life , Relaxation Therapy/methods , Treatment Outcome , Vomiting
14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26347018

ABSTRACT

Objective. To test the effectiveness of guided imagery (GI) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as stress reducing interventions in patients with prostate and breast cancer who undergo chemotherapy. Methods. Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group or the intervention group (PMR and GI). Patients were observed for a total duration of 3 weeks and assessed with the SAS and BECK-II questionnaires for anxiety and depression, respectively, in addiotion to two biological markers (saliva cortisol and saliva amylase) (trial registration number: NCT01275872). Results. 256 patients were registered and 236 were randomly assigned. In total 104 were randomised to the control group and 104 to the intervention group. Intervention's mean anxiety score and depression score changes were significantly different compared to the control's (b = -29.4, p < 0.001; b = -29.4, p < 0.001, resp.). Intervention group's cortisol levels before the intervention (0.30 ± 0.25) gradually decreased up to week 3 (0.16 ± 0.18), whilst the control group's cortisol levels before the intervention (0.21 ± 0.22) gradually increased up to week 3 (0.44 ± 0.35). The same interaction appears for the Amylase levels (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The findings showed that patients with prostate and breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment can benefit from PMR and GI sessions to reduce their anxiety and depression.

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